Based on Treasury Department records, the first documented suggestion that God be recognized on U.S.
coinage can be traced to a letter addressed to the Secretary of Treasury from a minister in 1861.
An Act of Congress, approved on April 11, 1864, authorized the coinage of two-cent coins upon which the motto first appeared.

The motto was omitted from the gold coins issued in 1907, causing a storm of public criticism.
As a result, legislation passed in May 1908 made "In God We Trust" mandatory on all the coins
on which it had previously appeared.

Legislation approved on July 11, 1955, made "In God We Trust" mandatory on all coins and paper currency of the United States.
By Act of July 30, 1956, "In God We Trust" became the national motto of the United States.
("E pluribus unum," while used on the national seal, has never been made a national motto by law.)

Several years ago, the appearance of "In God We Trust" on our money was challenged in the federal courts.
The challenge was rejected by the lower federal courts, and the Supreme Court of the United States declined to review the case.